Geranium plant named &#39;fisruby&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of geranium plant named ‘Fisruby’, particularly characterized by the combined features of dark red, double flowers; large, semi-spherically shaped inflorescences; deep green foliage with distinct zonation; initially round and bushy, and later medium to long, trailing plant habit; and relatively early spring flowering response.

GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Pelargonium peltatum L'Héritier (hybrid)

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Fisruby’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of geranium,botanically known as Pelargonium peltatum, and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘Fisruby’.

‘Fisruby’ is a product of a planned breeding program which had theobjective of creating new ivy geranium cultivars with semi-double todouble-type flowers, zoned foliage, and about medium sized,well-branched growth habit, in various flower colors.

‘Fisruby’ originated from a hybridization made by the inventor, AngelikaUtecht, in a controlled breeding program in Hillscheid, Germany, in1998. The female parent was the unpatented plant no. 93-361-15, havingred, semi-double flowers, very early beginning of flowering, deep greenfoliage and vigorous, well-branched plant habit. The male parent of‘Fisruby’ was the unpatented hybrid plant no. 94-1418-1, characterizedby violet, single-type flowers, leaves with distinct zonation, and aboutmedium tall plant habit.

‘Fisruby’ was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of thestated cross by Angelika Utecht in 1999 in a controlled environment inMoncarapacho, Portugal.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Fisruby’ was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in the fall of1999 in a controlled environment in Moncarapacho, Portugal, by, or underthe supervision of, Angelika Utecht.

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plantinitiated in May of 2000 in Hillscheid, Germany, and continuingthereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for ‘Fisruby’ are firmly fixed and are retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘Fisruby’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements, and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Hillscheid, Germany, under greenhouse conditions whichapproximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of ‘Fisruby’ in combination distinguish thisgeranium as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. dark-red, double flowers;

2. large, semi-spherically shaped inflorescence;

3. deep green foliage, leaves with rounded lobes, and distinct zonation;

4. moderately vigorous growth, medium or over sized, trailing planthabit; and

5. relatively early spring flowering response.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar is the variety ‘Fisbarock’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,367).

In comparison to ‘Fisbarock’, ‘Fisruby’ has a deeper, purple-red, hue offlower color, distinctly zoned foliage, and somewhat less dense planthabit with longer internodes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliagecharacteristics of ‘Fisruby’ with colors being as true as possible withan illustration of this type. The photographic drawing shows as

FIG. 1 a close-up side perspective view of a flowering potted ‘Fisruby’with leaves, buds and inflorescences; and as

FIG. 2 a side perspective view of a flowering hanging basket of‘Fisruby’ with leaves, buds and inflorescences.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The measurements were taken in Hillscheid, Germany, in mid May 2003, 15weeks after planting of rooted cuttings. The plants were growing in 14cm pots; they had been pinched once.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Color Chart. The color values were determinedindoors from plants growing in a green-house in May 2003, in Hillscheid,Germany.

-   Parenatge:    -   -   Male parent.—Unpatented, hybrid plant no. 94-1418-1.        -   Female parent.—Unpatented, hybrid plant no. 93-361-15.-   Classification: Pelargonium peltatum L'Héritier (hybrid).-   Propagation: Vegetative cuttings.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Umbel.—Shape: Roughly semi-spherical. Average diameter:            101 mm. Average depth: 60-65 mm. Number of flowers per            umbel: About 8-12.        -   Peduncle.—Peduncle length: 148 mm. Peduncle diameter: 3 mm.            Peduncle color: Light yellow-green, RHS 144 B.        -   Pedicel.—Pedicel length: 30 mm in length, often with a spur            at the lower end. Pedicel diameter: 2-2.5 mm. Pedicel color:            Mainly green, RHS 143 A to 143 B, additionally greyed-red            stripes may appear, RHS 181B to RHS 181 C.        -   Corolla.—Average length: 50 mm. Average width: 43 mm. Depth:            20 mm. Form: Double-type. Shape: Oval outline, with the            upper petals longer than the rest of petals.        -   Petaloids.—Number of petaloids: 1-3. Length: Variable,            ranges from 10 to 15 mm. Width: Variable, ranges from 2 to            8 mm. Overall shape: Most often narrow and filiform            (threadlike), but sometimes nearly petal-shaped (obovate).            Apex shape: Acute, or rounded. Base shape: Acute or            attenuate. Margin: Entire. Color of upper petaloids: RHS 46            A, base white, RHS 155 D, to pale pink RHS 69 B. Color of            lower petaloids: RHS 46 A, base white, RHS 155 D, to pale            pink RHS 69 B.        -   Petals.—Number of petals: 15-18. Shape of petals: Obovate,            base acute, upper end is rounded, margin is entire. Size of            petals: Upper petals: 28-30 mm long, 18-20 mm wide. Lower            petals: 22-23 mm long, 18 mm wide. Color (general tonality            from a distance of three meters): Dark red, uniform. Color            of upper petals: Red, closest to RHS 46 A. Markings of upper            petals: 2 blackish veins (greyed-purple), RHS 187 A. Color            of lower petals: Red, RHS 46 A. Markings of lower petals:            None. Color of lower surface of petals: Red, from RHS 53 A            to 53 B.        -   Sepals.—Number of sepals: 5. Shape of sepals: Linear to            lanceolate, acute tip, fused base, surface with fine            pubescence, margin entire. Size of sepals: 12-13 mm long, 5            mm wide for the largest upper sepal, 3 mm in width for the            other sepals. Color of sepals: Yellow-green, RHS 144 A;            largest sepal brown (greyed-purple), RHS 180 B, these values            apply to both surfaces.        -   Bud (just prior to petals unfolding).—Shape: Elliptical.            Color of sepals: Light green, RHS 143 C. Color of petals:            Deep red, RHS 53 A. Length: 18 mm. Width: 9 mm.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—5-7 fertile anthers, moderate pollen, orange,            RHS 25 A, filaments white, RHS 155 D, to light-pink, RHS 56            A.        -   Gynoecium.—One pistil, whitish style, RHS 155 D, to            red-purple, RHS 65 D, stigma 5- 6-lobed stigma, dark            greyed-purple, RHS 187 B.        -   Fertility/seed set.—No seed set observed.        -   Spring flowering response period.—In Hillscheid, Germany, in            2003 plants had on average 1.1 flowers opened 12 weeks after            planting of rooted cuttings (pinched plants).        -   Outdoor flower production.—Continuously and moderately rich            flowering, the flower count in 2003 in Hillscheid, Germany,            indicated about 25 inflorescence per plant in mid May.        -   Durability.—No fading of the flower color; at Hillscheid            flowers were not observed to being scorched by the sun, in            contrast to many other red to dark-red flowered varieties;            fair rain resistance.        -   Lastingness of the individual flower.—About 8 days at 18° C.        -   Fragrance.—None.-   Plant:    -   -   Foliage.—Overall Shape: Ivy-shaped. Base Shape: Cordate            base, with open to closed gap between the lowest lobes. Apex            Shape: Apex rounded with moderate lobes. Margin: Entire.            Texture: Upper surface smooth, glossy. Size of leaf: 88 mm            wide, about 58 mm long. Color of upper surface: Deep green,            closest to RHS 137 B. Color of zonation: Brown            (greyed-orange), closest to RHS 166 A, distinctness: weak to            medium, relatively narrow. Color of lower surface: Green,            RHS 143 B. Petiole: 30-40 mm long, 2.5 mm diameter, light            green in color, closest to RHS 143 B.        -   General appearance and form.—Stem color: Light green, RHS            143 B. Internode length: 3-5 cm. Branching pattern: 6.8            branches on average. Size of plants: Height: 18.5 cm (15            week-old plants, as described). Diameter: 19 cm (15 week-old            plants, as described).Length of plant: 21 cm (15 week-old            plants); 75 cm (30 week-old plants, around September 1),            measured from the top of the soil (base of the main stem) to            the tips of the branches, without inflorescences.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of geranium plant named ‘Fisruby’, asdescribed and illustrated herein.